Qin Hongmei and Zhao Xiulan immediately laughed: "We'll listen to you, we'll listen to you."
The following afternoon, Gu Mingyue took her camera to the small square in the family compound.
Qin Hongmei squatted under the pomegranate tree with Chengcheng in her arms. Chengcheng was holding a red apple in his hand and curiously touching the patterns on the tree trunk.
Zhao Xiulan's Ningning chases after a butterfly, her pigtails bouncing back and forth.
Gu Mingyue held up her camera and pressed the shutter when the two children weren't paying attention, capturing the children's laughter.
Once the photos were developed, Gu Mingyue delivered them to Qin Hongmei and Zhao Xiulan's homes.
Looking at the photo of Chengcheng biting an apple with her cheeks puffed out, Qin Hongmei couldn't stop smiling. She then turned around and filled a jar with her own pickled vegetables.
Gu Mingyue had just delivered the developed photos to Qin Hongmei and Zhao Xiulan's homes.
Before long, people gathered in the small square of the residential compound.
Qin Hongmei held up a photo of Chengcheng biting an apple and showed it to the women who had gathered around: "Look at this photo, Chengcheng's little teeth marks are all clearly visible. It's much better than the staged photos taken in a photo studio."
Zhao Xiulan also handed over Ningning's photo: "Look at how my Ningning runs, her braids are flying up. Mingyue really knows how to take pictures."
Aunt Zhang, who was closest to the crowd, pointed at the photos and nodded repeatedly: "These are really well taken. Mingyue, my son will be one year old next week. Could you take some pictures of him too? I'll get you some red date cake that my mom sent."
The woman next to her, Sister Liu, chimed in, "I'd like to take a picture with my daughter. I'll knit you a pair of children's wool socks; you can choose the color."
Surrounded by people, Gu Mingyue smiled and agreed, "We can take pictures, but we'll have to wait in line. Let's take pictures in a natural way; they'll look better that way."
The sisters-in-law were immediately delighted, and they quickly settled on a time.
Aunt Zhang immediately brought a bag of jujube cakes from her home and shoved it into Gu Mingyue's hand: "Try it first, and I'll pack you a big box when we're filming."
The next morning, just after Gu Mingyue finished breakfast, someone knocked on the door.
When I opened the door, I saw Sister Zhao holding a child and carrying a cloth bag: "Mingyue, I specially brought the child to play in the yard. When is a convenient time to take pictures? These are some pickled cucumbers I made. Try them."
Gu Mingyue greeted them with a smile, while Zhong Yuxiu helped entertain the child. Gu Mingyue held up her camera and took a picture the moment the child reached for the roses on the windowsill.
Within a few days, Gu Mingyue's windowsill was filled with pickled vegetables, pastries, and yarn balls given to her by her sisters-in-law, and she went through roll after roll of film in her camera.
Every time the photos are developed, the small square in the family compound becomes as lively as a festival. The women praise each other's photos, while the children gather around the camera to look at them curiously.
"Comrade Gu."
Gu Mingyue turned her head and saw that Master Zhang and Sister Li from the garment factory were carrying two large cloth bags and walking towards her. The bags were printed with the garment factory's blue logo.
"Master Zhang, Sister Li." She quickly put down her camera and went to greet them. "Why did you make a special trip? I was planning to pick it up from the factory in the next couple of days."
Master Zhang smiled and handed over the cloth bag: "The drawing you gave me last time is finished. I thought you were busy taking care of the child, so I brought it over on my way."
Sister Li nodded in agreement and reached out to tease Chenchen, who was leaning closer: "The female workers in the factory all praised the little doll clothes you drew, saying they were more stylish than the ones sold at the supply and marketing cooperative."
As she spoke, she opened the cloth bag, inside which were neatly folded garments made of soft floral fabric that felt exceptionally comfortable to the touch.
The women who were taking pictures gathered around, and Sister Wang picked up a pink floral dress: "This dress is so pretty, Mingyue, did you make it for me?"
Gu Mingyue smiled and nodded. There were too many people gathered here, so she took Master Zhang and Sister Li home.
After arriving home, I took out several sheets of newly drawn paper from inside the house: "These are short-sleeved shirts and shorts designs that I drew since summer is coming soon. Could you please make a batch for me?"
Master Zhang took the paper, squinted at it, and said, "No problem. Your drawing style is down-to-earth, and the children will be comfortable wearing it. Let's cooperate again next time according to the old rules."
Master Zhang tucked the folded drawings into his cloth bag, then suddenly became serious: "Mingyue, besides delivering clothes, there's something important I need to tell you this time."
He took out a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it over, saying, "This is what the factory manager asked me to give you. He said that your children's clothing designs are novel and the children are comfortable to wear, and many people are asking about them."
This shows that the market for children's clothes is huge. Currently, not many people are eyeing this market, so if it's done well, the future is definitely bright.
Gu Mingyue took the note, on which were written several lines of neat handwriting in pen. The gist of it was that the garment factory wanted to cooperate with the "Hongxing Garment Factory," which was larger in scale and had more mature equipment in the city, to develop a children's clothing line.
The factory manager specifically asked Master Zhang to ask her if she would be willing to go to the city together to talk to the people from the Red Star Factory about design ideas.
"Go to the city?" Gu Mingyue was taken aback. Just then, Chenchen in her arms reached out and grabbed the hem of her clothes. She looked down and touched Chenchen's head, a question forming in her mind.
Going to the city to collaborate with large manufacturers and design clothes that can be worn by more children is indeed a good thing, but Chenchen is only five months old, and she can't leave.
Seeing her hesitation, Sister Li next to her smiled and said, "Don't worry, the factory manager said that if you're willing to go, we can choose a weekend, go and come back on the same day, so it won't interfere with you taking care of your child."
Moreover, Director Wang of the Hongxing Factory is a very practical person. He just wanted to hear your thoughts as a designer, since your designs are more suitable for children than those of us older workers.
Zhong Yuxiu then came over with a cup of water, handed the enamel cup to Master Zhang and Sister Li, and said to Gu Mingyue, "This is a good thing. It's your skill that your clothing designs have been valued by big manufacturers."
"I'll take care of Chenchen, so you can go to the city without worry. It'll be a good opportunity to see how big factories operate."
Gu Mingyue looked at the note in her hand, then at Chenchen's sleeping face. She was happy just thinking about how she could make those drawings of children's clothes in batches and hang them in the city's supply and marketing cooperative.
She looked up at Master Zhang and said, "I'll do as the factory manager said, let's go to the city together this weekend."
Mr. Zhang and Ms. Li were immediately delighted. Mr. Zhang slapped his thigh and said, "Great! I'll go back and tell the factory manager right away. We'll set off first thing this weekend."
Before the dew had dried on this weekend morning, Gu Mingyue, carrying a cloth bag, boarded a boat to the city with Master Zhang and Sister Li.
The gate of Hongxing Garment Factory is very impressive, with the words "Hard work builds the factory" painted in white on the red brick wall. The sound of sewing machines "clattering" can be heard from the workshop, which is much more lively than the garment factories on the island.
Factory Director Wang's office is upstairs in the workshop, with a thick stack of fabric samples piled on a wooden table.
Seeing Gu Mingyue enter, he stood up with a smile: "I've heard that Comrade Gu's children's clothing designs are popular, so I specially invited you here today to hear your thoughts."
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